Hand-operated machine for molding blocks or bricks



Feb. 19, 1952 R. STURTEVAN T ETAL 2,586,184

HAND-OPERATED MACHINE FOR MOLDING BLOCKS OR BRICKS Filed Dec. 17, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 1 1952 R. STURTEVANT ETAL 2,586,18

HAND-OPERATED MACHINE FOR MOLDING BLOCKS OR BRICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 17, 1949 5&

Attorney Feb. 19, 1952 HAND-OPERATED MACHINE FOR MOLDING BLOCKS ORBRICKS Filed Dec. 17, 1949 R. L. STURTEVANT ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND-OPEBATED MACHINEIon MOLDING BLOGKS OR- BRICKS Richard Lawrence Sturtev'ant and Bernard Joh'n sturtevant, Heath Common,- Storrington, and Richard LawrenceSturteiiant, Jr., Findon Val-'- ley, Worthing, Eng-land Aplicatiqn'necember 17, 1949, Serial No. 133,546 In Great Britain July 19,1949 This invention relates to machines of the hand operated type formoulding precast blocks or bricks, either plane or embossed, fromconcrete or other suitable material in which the loose material ischarged into a mould box wherein it is compressed upon operation of ahand lever and finally ejected.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved machine of theabove kind in which both the labour of operating the hand lever and thetime required to mould a block are reduced in comparison with existingmachines.

The above object is attained by constructing the machine so that theoperations necessary to mould the loose material within the mould boxand to eject the moulded block therefrom are performed as a result of aunit-directional movement of the hand lever and this isto be consideredas the principal feature of the present invention.

In a preferred construction of machine according to this invention theoperations performed as a'result of a continuous movement in onedirection of the hand lever comprise the compression of the loosematerial within the mould box by pressure plates, the partial release ofone pressure plate to release pressure acting against the underside of aremovable cover plate serving to close the upper end of the mould box,the removal of the said cover plate from its closed position withopening or full separation of both pressure plates, and ejection of themoulded block through the upper open end of the mould box by anelevating movement through the mould box of an ejector the head of whichnormally constitutes the bottom of the mould box on which the block issupported.

In this preferred construction the operations above set forth areeffected through cams mounted on a horizontal shaft which is turned bythe aforesaid hand lever, said shaft with its cams being situated wellto the rear of the mould box so that loose material and moisturespilling from the mould box cannot fall upon the cams. In some knownmachines the operating mechanism is situated below the mould box and incon a sequence it is almost impossible to prevent such mechanism frombecoming choked by drippings from the mould box. I

In practice we prefer to fit our machine with a chute capable ofcarrying suflicient mix for a number of blocks and to arrange this chutein proximity to the upper end of the mould box so that the mould box maybe filled by the simple expedientof dragging by hand material from thechute into the mould box; and'when the same is 3 Claims. (Cl. 25101)thus roughly filled, smoothing off the 'top and forcing back into thechute any excess by means of the top cover plate which for the purposeis ada'ptedto be pushed into the closed position by hand. Its openingmovement however is effected through the instrumentality of one of theaforesaid cams.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and carried intoeffect a machine according to the above preferred construction will nowbe described, by Way of example, and by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the complete machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line III-III in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line IV-IV in Fig. 2 showing theposition of the parts at the commencement of compression.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing the position of the parts aftercompression and the completion of the return or opening movement of therear pressure plate.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation showing the position of the parts at thecompletion of the full operating stroke of the hand lever with thecompressed block raised out of the mould box to a position convenientfor removal.

Referring now to the drawings the machine therein illustrated comprisesa frame consisting of a horizontal rectangular top bed I supported at aconvenient height upon a pair of rear legs 2 and front legs 3 formed bybending a single length of material to form an inverted V. These legsare suitably braced to the top bed I by struts or ties 4.

Forming part of the top bed I and mounted, in parallel spacedrelationship, are a pair of side members 5 each formed from a length ofangle iron and these together form a bearing support for a transversecam shaft 6 and a means of support for the fixed vertical side members 1of the mould box which is disposed at the front end of the machinebetween the side members 5 Whilst the cam shaft 6 is arranged at therear end of the machine. By this arrangement the cam shaft, and most ofthe operating gear, is maintained free from contamination by droppingsfrom the mould box.

The cam shaft is mounted to rotate in bearings 8 in the side members 5and the operatin handle 9 for the same is mounted on the right hand end.of the shaft. 7

Mounted on the cam shaft and between the side members 5 are three cams,a central or intermediate cam ID for effecting operation of the ejectorand two double sided cams ll arranged one on each side of the cam 10.These latter cams II are employed for actuating. opposing pressureplates I2 and I3 forming the front and rear transverse movable sidesrespectively of the mould box and serving to compress material withinthe mould box. This inward r compressing movement of the pressure platesis effected against the resistance of draw-back springs [4 which servegradually to return both pressure plates to their separated positions asthe cams turn away from the position of full compression.

The pressure plates are actuated by the cams ll through pairs ofconnecting bars l5 and I6,

the bars I5 being attached'a't their front ends to the front pressureplate I2 and the other bars IE to the rear pressure plate l3. 3

The bars I5 and I6 extend side by side one on each side of the machineand the bars in each such couple are cross connected by one of thesprings l4 whereby in moving oppositely to each other, when the pressureplates are being closed by the cams, these springs are extended andready, when the movement of the cams permit, to effect the aforesaidseparation of the pressure plates.

The cams ll operate on the bars 15 and [6 through rollers l1, saidrollers being affixed adjustably on the outer ends of the bars so thatthe roller are grouped in pairs and engage at diametrically oppositepoints on each cam. By this arrangement, and in consequence of each cambeing double ended 0r compound, the rotation of the cams by a downwardmotion of they hand lever 9 towards the front of the machine causes therollers in each pair to be forced apart simultaneously and thuscorrespondingly to draw the two pressure plates l2, [3 together.

The upper end of the mould box is adapted to be closed during eachmoulding operation by a displaceable top cover or head plate l8 and inthe machine illustrated this cover plate is carried by and extendsacross the upper ends of a pair of rocking arms [9 which are pivoted atto each of the front legs 3.

The rocking arms l9 and the cover plate are free to be swung into andout of the closed position by hand but in practice the closing movementonly is effected by hand, the opening movement being effected by contactbetween an extension piece llla on the cam I0 and a roller 2| which ismounted on'a rod 22 serving to tie the outer ends of a pair of arms 23,which, at their inner ends, are pivotally attached as at 24 to therocking arms I9. The component, consisting of the roller 2| and the arms23, is supported by resting against a suitable part of the main frameand on being contacted by the extension piece [0a of the cam l0 it isknocked rearwardly until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 6where the roller 2| has ridden up on top of the cam extension piece Illaand abuts against a stop Illb which serves to hold the cover plate inthe open position shown against accidental closing.

The mechanical ejection of each moulded block is rendered possible byproviding as a base for the mould box a platform 25 which acts as asupport for a removable wooden pallet 26 on; which the concrete or othermaterial is moulded, and is mounted upon the upper end of a verticallymovable pillar 21. The support for the pillar 21 comprises twin bars 28which extend rearwardly to a point of pivotal attachment 29 between thesides of a depending bracket 30, and a further bar or rod 3| which isalso pivotally attached as at 32 to the bracket 30. By pivotallyattaching the front ends of the bars 28 and 3| as at 33 and 34, to twoseparate points on the pillar 21, and by similarly disposing the pivots29 and 32 on the bracket 30, there is provided a simple means ofensuring that the pillar will maintain a substantially vertical positionduring the whole of its vertical motion.

The vertical lift is imparted to the platform 25 from the centre cam I0and for this purpose the bar 28 is provided with an upstandingattachment or branch piece 35 on the upper end of which is mounted aroller 36 so situated as to be contactable by the rear end of the camI0. When this contact takes plate the roller 36 is displaced rearwardlyand this results in the forward end of the bar 28 being raised, thusgiving to the pillar 21 the required vertical motion which is continueduntil the platform 25 is lifted clear of the mould box to the positionshown in Fig. 6. In this figure, a moulded block is shown in chaindotted lines ready for removal and such block is indicated by thereference numeral 31.

Preparatory to the step of knocking back the cover plate I8 it isnecessary or advisable to relieve this plate from the pressure whichacts against its underside due to the lateral compression of thematerial within the mould box imposed by the two pressure plates, andthis is brought about in the machine illustrated by permitting thesprings Hi to draw back the rear pressure plate l3 to the slight extentillustrated in Fig. 5 where the dotted line indicates the position takenup by this plate when under full compression whilst the full lineposition indicates that assumed after said initial withdrawal has beeneffected. This initial movement of the rear pressure plate is permittedby providing the forward end of each outer cam I l with a low portion Ila and in the position shown in Fig. 5 the rollers contacting saidforward ends of these cams II, and associated with the rear plate, havedropped into these low portions, thus permitting the springs l4correspondingly to draw back the said pressure plate [3.

For ease in charging the mould box with the desired aggregate themachine shown is fitted with a chute 38. This is supported above the topof and by the main frame in an inclined position with its lower anddischarge end just above the rear pressure plate I3. This chute is keptcharged with material and each time the mould box requires fillingsuificient material for the purpose is raked down into it from thechute. The material within the mould box is then levelled off by the actof pushing the cover plate I8 into the closed position, and by providingthis plate at its rear transverse edge with an upstanding lip l8a allexcess material is pushed back into the chute.

As previously explained in this specification an important feature ofthis invention is that uni-directional motion of the hand lever 9, fromthe vertical position shown in Figs. 1 to 3 to the fully inclinedposition shown in Fig. 6, serves to produce the" performance of all theoperations necessary to compress the loose material into a moulded blockand the ejection of the said block from the mould box to a positionconvenient for its removal, and the operations thus performed in themachine illustrated will now be described.

Assuming that the wooden pallet 26 has been positioned and the mould boxhas been charged with the aggregate, and the charge levelled at! by thehand closure of the top cover IS, the operator, who stands at the frontof the machine facing the mould box, now grasps the hand lever 9 andpulls it over with a steady and continuous motion until it comes to restin the fully depressed position shown in Fig. 6. During this continuousuni-directional movement of the hand lever, the aggregate within themould box is compressed by the inward or closing movements of the twopressure plates l2, l3 and pressure so imparted forces the material hardup against the underside of the closed cover plate l8. This upwardpressure is then released by the partial release from cam pressure, onaccount of the low parts I la, of the rear pressure plate l3 which movesback under the action of the springs I 4 to the full line position shownin Fig. 5. The cover plate I8 is then knocked back by the part Illa onthe cam It] to open the top of the mould box and at the same time thetwo pressure plates l2, l3 are free to be fully opened by the springsI4. The platform '25 supporting the wooden pallet and the compressedblock is then moved upwards through the open mould box until it and thesupported block attains the fully elevated position shown in Fig. 6 whenthe block is removed by hand for drying, a new pallet fitted, and thehand lever 9 returned to its original vertical position, when themachine is ready for moulding a further block.

When the hand lever 9 is fully pulled over to the position shown in Fig.6 the cover plate 18 is held against accidental closure by reason ofcontact between the roller 2| and the stop Illb on the cam I0, whilstthe pallet support 25 is held steady by the fact that the roller 35 isin engagement with the end of the cam l0 and in consequence is preventedfrom falling until the lever 9 is being returned to its startingposition.

We claim:

1. A hand operated machine according to claim 3 in which the operativemechanism comprises cams mounted on a cam shaft and turnable with a handlever wherein three cams are employed, an intermediate cam for openingthe top of the mould box preparatory to the ejection of the molded blockand for efiecting said ejection and two further cams arranged one oneach side of the intermediate cams, said outside cams serving to forcethe pressure plates inwards in compressing the material within the mouldbox against a load arranged to return the pressure plates to their openpositions as the pressure of the cams is released. I

2. A hand operated machine according to claim 3, in which the operativemechanism comprises cams mounted on a cam shaft and turnable with a handlever wherein three cams are employed, an intermediate cam for openingthe top of the mould box preparatory to the ejection of the mouldedblock and for effecting said ejection and two further cams arranged oneon each side of the intermediate cams, wherein each outside cam has twohigh parts, one of said high parts serving to move one pressure plateand the other high part the opposite pressure plate, the high parts forone pressure plate also each including a low part to permit one of thepressure plates to be moved away from the other pressure plate under theaction of the said load.

3. In a hand operated machine for making precast blocks comprising amould box having two fixed sides and two oppositely movable pressureplates for compressing each charge therein, and defining the other sidesof said mould box, a cover plate for opening and closing the upper endof the mould box and an elevator base for said mould box verticallymovable, upon the opening displacement of the cover plate, to lift theprecast block moulded therein above the sides thereof, a shaftincorporating a plurality of cams displaced from said mould box in ahorizontal plane, means serving to operatively connect the respectivecams with the pressure plates, cover plate and elevator baserespectively, said pressure plates being normally biased to remain inspaced open position, and means for unidirectionally angularlydisplacing said shaft for transmitting in sequence, a simultaneousinward movement of said pressure plates to form a charge in the mouldinto a moulded product, a partial separation of one of the pressureplates in relation to the other to release the pressure within the mouldbox developed by the charge being moulded, the full separation of thepressure plates and the displacement for opening of the cover plate, andfinally, the ejection of the moulded block by vertical movement of theelevator base.

RICHARD LAWRENCE STURTEVANT.

BERNARD JOHN STURTEVANT.

RICHARD LAWRENCE STURTEVANT. JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 314,274 Tiffany Mar. 24, 1885837,938 Leggett Dec. 11. 1906

